Wicklow’s Phoneware gleans €4m in new US business

Wicklow software company Phoneware is set to collaborate with Avaya Government Solutions, in a €4m deal over three years, which will see its latest software deployed by the US Department of State in more than 100 of its embassies and overseas missions.

The announcement was made in Washington, DC, yesterday as part of an Enterprise Ireland business-networking event during Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD’s, visit to the US capital.

The US Department of State has already deployed Phoneware’s products in more than 260 overseas locations. The latest version of Phoneware’s flagship product – PhoneMaster 6 – is on track to be released in the market in Q3 2012, with projected revenue of €4m over the next three years, managing director Philip Maguire said.

Phoneware itself was set up in 1995. It develops software tools for the telecommunications industry. Export sales, mainly to North America, account for 80pc of its turnover. The company employs 13 people, having taken on three new hires since December. Maguire said the plan is to take on two more employees over the next 12 months.

He said this new product opens up a whole new market to Phoneware and would potentially double the company’s earnings internationally.

Kenny spoke about how the success of indigenous Irish firms such as Phoneware in competitive markets and high-tech sectors is testament of Ireland’s ability to win business anywhere in the world.

Avaya Government Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US$5bn communications solutions company Avaya. It delivers solutions to the US federal and local government markets.